WARRSAN doubles up in Coronation Cup HEADLINE p. 5 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT call 732-747-8060. BY FAX AND INTERNET www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 SMARTY SET FOR TEST OF CHAMPIONS CLASSIC DESTINY The moment has arrived. Despite an inclement Lord Derby may have only a single horse in training, weather forecast, a record crowd is but that one-horse stable happens to be expected at Belmont Park this after- comprised of Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross noon when Smarty Jones (Elusive {Ire}), who rolled over her rivals to win yes- Quality) will attempt to secure the terday’s G1 Vodafone Oaks at Epsom by Triple Crown in the $1-million GI seven lengths. “To stand here in this enclo- Belmont S. Unbeaten in eight career sure having won a Classic, boy oh boy,” starts, the Pennsylvania-bred posted exclaimed the 19th Earl of Derby. It was first his most impressive victory to date in Classic success since 1945 for the family, Equi-Photo the GI Preakness S., dominating a which took the inaugural running 225 years solid field by 11 1/2 lengths. His tri- Ouija Board ago. Epsom Oaks cont. p2 umphs in the GI Kentucky Derby and Preakness have T Shaw/Getty Images seen him become one of the most popular racehorses in LET IT SNOW recent memory, as well as fueling speculation that he Lammtarra’s rattling finish in 1995 provided might just be the one to end the 26- Godolphin with their first Epsom Derby success. Can year drought since Affirmed was able Snow Ridge (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) give the boys in to land the Triple Crown in 1978. blue a second win in the Classic when How has Smarty Jones weathered the he steps up to the plate at Epsom this storm? “The big thing that keeps go- afternoon? The stable have failed to ing through my head is how the horse hit the bulls-eye despite saddling two is doing and how impressed I am that favorites in the race since, sending out he has been able to maintain that level,” said trainer John Servis. “Quite Cape Verdi (Ire) to run ninth in 1998 frankly, I didn’t think he could. After and Dubai Millennium (GB), who was the Derby, I thought this horse would ninth in ‘99. But Snow Ridge can be ready for a break. He’s even im- change that run of bad luck. An im- pressive debut winner in a Kempton pressed me more than I ever ex- Equi-Photo pected.” The unbeaten three-year-old conditions event in early September, has drawn the outside post for his date with destiny he followed up with a win in the G2 Royal Lodge S. He disappointed when Snow Ridge and his natural speed should secure him a spot near the www.godolphin.com front, but Servis is prepared for other scenarios. “Ide- only ninth in the G1 Dewhurst S. three ally, I was thinking that if they let us go to the lead, weeks later, but despite that showing was duly taken that’s okay, but I don’t want to go to the lead and get under Godolphin’s wing. After sterling work in Dubai, hooked up in a speed duel,” Servis continued. “Stewart he returned to finish second to Haafhd (GB) in the G1 [jockey Elliott]’s really going to have to shine in this 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1. Still, no Guineas race. Let’s face it, we’ve got a bull’s eye on our back. I runner-up has gone one better at Epsom since Grundy think there are going to be some things happening in (Ire) in 1975. Epsom Derby cont. p4 this race that are going to be totally uncharacteristic for ISLAND IN THE SUN a normal race, and Stewart is going to have to get Island Sand (Tabasco Cat) made a vic- through that.” Servis is hopeful that Smarty can live up torious return to New York, rallying to to his star billing. “The country’s been waiting for a take the GI Acorn S. at Belmont. “This is Triple Crown winner,” he said. “I know now why there my biggest win, absolutely,” said winning haven’t been that many. This is a tough road, real trainer Larry Jones. “And where better to tough.” Belmont cont. p3 Adam Coglianese win it than in New York?” Acorn cont. p6 www.coolmore.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/5/04 • PAGE 2 of 12 E P S O M O A K S Blood Will Tell... P P As her pedigree suggests, Ouija Board was slow to come to hand at two, but made quick strides when on PUTTING THE DOUBTS TO REST Despite the the track. Third in a decent Newmarket maiden in her persistent doubts about her stamina, the 7-2 Ouija debut, she came back to win a lesser event at Board (Cape Cross {Ire}) settled like a dream in rear and Yarmouth in October and ended her campaign with a even needed gentle persuasion from Kieren fair third in the Listed Montrose S. at Fallon to stay on the heels of the leaders at Newmarket the following month. But she the top of the hill. Tracking Jamie Spencer blossomed during her winter vacation and and the 11-4 pick All Too Beautiful (Ire) returned to post a powerful score in the (Sadler’s Wells) into the straight, she came Listed Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket May 2. “I alive when that rival was committed passing was very impressed when she won at the three-furlong marker and had quickened to Ouija Board & Co Newmarket, and the main thing was to get the front by the time they reached the quarter Tom Shaw/Getty Images her switched off,” explained Fallon, who also pole. Never needing to resort to his whip, won the Oaks with Reams of Verse and Fallon was merely a passenger as the filly surged clear Ramruma. “She’s never given me any indications that to record a faster time than was recorded in the G1 she wouldn’t stay and she was nicely asleep for the Coronation Cup earlier in the afternoon. “It was first half of the race. It wasn’t until I asked her to go incredible--she looked so relaxed which is what we and win her race that she really woke up and sprinted wanted. Kieren gave her a beautiful ride and she is home. The way she quickened from the two was in- going to be a great mare to have back home,” said the credible, and if she keeps improving the way she has Earl. from Newmarket to here, the sky is the limit.” Condi- tioner Ed Dunlop, enjoying his first British Classic suc- Friday, Epsom, Britain cess, added, “She traveled well, stayed and won like a VODAFONE OAKS-G1, £350,000, Epsom, 6-4, 3yo, f, champion. I’ve seen my father [John] win Derbys and 12f 10ydsT, 2:35.41, gd. Oaks here and to do so myself is great. She is not in 1--@sOUIJA BOARD (GB), 126, f, 3, by Cape Cross (Ire) the G1 Irish Oaks [at The Curragh July 18], but I would 1st Dam: Selection Board (GB), by Welsh Pageant (Fr) say she will be supplemented, and after that is the G1 2nd Dam: Ouija (GB), by Silly Season Nassau S. [at Goodwood July 31].” Click for the Racing 3rd Dam: Samanda (GB), by Alycidon (GB) Post chart or the brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Lord Derby; B-Stanley Estate & Stud Company; T-Ed Dunlop; J-Kieren Fallon; £203,000. Lifetime Raves for the Runner-up... Record: 5-3-0-2, £227,438. *First Group 1 winner Aidan O’Brien was upbeat about the performance of for sophomore sire (Green Desert). runner-up All Too Beautiful. “She ran very well, but 2--All Too Beautiful (Ire), 126, f, 3, Sadler’s Wells-- Jamie [Spencer] said she was very green,” he said. Urban Sea, by Miswaki. (1,100,000gns wnl ‘01 “She hasn’t done a lot of racing and has had two soft TATDEC). O-Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier; races, so she will have learnt a lot from today. Obvi- B-Sunderland Holdings Ltd & Abbey Bloodstock; £77,000. ously, the Irish Oaks is the next target.” As for the 3--Punctilious (GB), 126, f, 3, Danehill--Robertet, by Godolphin duo, Racing Manager Simon Crisford was Roberto. O-Godolphin; B-B Neilsen; £38,500. disappointed with their respective performances. Margins: 7, 3HF, 1HF. Odds: 7-2, 11-4, 100-30. “Punctilious did not handle the track and Sundrop Also ran: Necklace (GB), Crystal (Ire), Sundrop (Jpn), (Sunday Silence) raced too freely and also didn't handle Kisses For Me (Ire). the track,” he explained. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 6/5/04 • PAGE 3 of 12 Belmont cont. Who’s Up for the Challenge? The Elusive Crown... He’s never lost a race, but in order to keep his per- Smarty Jones is the 10th Kentucky Derby and fect record intact, Smarty Jones will have to beat his Preakness winner in the last 26 years with an opportu- eight rivals to the wire after one circuit of the sweeping nity to land the Triple Crown and, by general consen- Belmont oval. The lightly raced Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) sus, represents the best chance to do so since Spectac- was the runner-up at Pimlico after a wide trip and could ular Bid came up short at 1-5 in 1979.